'America's Got Talent' star back at Belleview church

Fernando Varela, the music director at the St. Paul Polish National Catholic Church in Belleview, FL, performed during the 11 a.m. Mass Sunday morning, October 12, 2013, with his wife Susan, right. He made his triumphant return after making it as a finalist on the NBC show, "America's Got Talent" with his trio of vocalist Forte. Varela will be performing in Carnegie Hall in November and other locations around the country this year with Forte.

Published: Sunday, October 13, 2013 at 8:20 p.m.

Last Modified: Sunday, October 13, 2013 at 8:20 p.m.

The man with the big voice was back at his little Belleview church on Sunday, wowing the faithful who packed the pews at St. Paul National Catholic Church to hear the talent they knew well before a contest introduced him to the world.

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Fernando Varela returned to St. Paul, where he's served as music director for the past four years, for the first time since last month's near miss in the finals of NBC's “America's Got Talent.”

At numerous points during a Mass that stretched for almost two hours, Varela was applauded by St. Paul's appreciative parishioners, who clearly reveled in the outcome of the classic local-boy-makes-good tale.

“Fernando raises the roof,” said Barbara Field, a resident of The Villages who was a parishioner at St. Paul's when Varela started there.

Field said she regularly attends another church because it better accommodated her schedule, but periodically comes back to St. Paul. On Sunday, she went there — for the second of two services she went to — with her neighbor, Karen Castle, specifically so they could listen to Varela.

“I just don't see how he came in fourth,” Field said.

Varela, as part of an operatic trio of tenors called Forte, was one of six acts that made the show's finale in September.

Forte was the third one eliminated that night by the audience vote.

Still, the finish was strong enough to land Varela and his partners in Forte — Josh Page and Sean Panikkar — a recording deal with Columbia Records and shows at Carnegie Hall and the Tropicana casino resort in Las Vegas.

The Tropicana's website is already billing the group's appearance there at the end of December.

Forte's full recording with Columbia will be released on Nov. 12, although their single “Caruso” can be purchased online now.

Varela entered Sunday's service carrying his 3-year-old son, Zeke, to a standing ovation and people taking pictures of him with their cellphones.

“It's been exciting, but it's nice to come back home and to some sense of normalcy,” he told the congregation.

He then sang “You Raise Me Up,” a song originally by Josh Groban, with whom Forte performed on the finale of “America's Got Talent.”

“As Fernando was singing I couldn't help but be filled by the spirit,” the Rev. Mark Niznik, St. Paul's pastor, told the congregation.

“It's quite obvious where the most incredible talent was on that show. The most incredible talent is in our church here today.”

He then quipped that it was Susan Varela, Fernando Varela's wife and a former singer at Disney World.

Niznik referred to Varela as “our superstar” and cited his presence in church on Sunday, against the backdrop of Varela's recent achievements, to illustrate the appeal of St. Paul and its faith.

“You think he has to come back here?” Niznik said. “He could be the tenor at the Vatican, if he felt like it. He could sing anywhere in the world that he wants to. But look at which church he chose to remain at: the one he started with.”

Varela sang four other songs of worship, including two moving duets with his wife that also drew standing ovations from the parish.

After the service, Fernando Varela described his life recently as a “whirlwind,” one that had swept him up into instant and unexpected fame.

While the success was enjoyable, he added that he welcomed the chance for a respite, with an opportunity to do things that he had been unable to do while competing, such as having a date night with his wife and taking Zeke to day care.

“It's been nice to come back,” Varela said. “This is home for us, and I'll be happy to come back as much as I can.”

Castle, The Villages resident who had come to hear Varela for the first time, was obviously impressed, calling him “unbelievable.” But she was also taken by him as a person.

“He's keeping a level head. He's keeping family and religion a priority,” she said.

<p>The man with the big voice was back at his little Belleview church on Sunday, wowing the faithful who packed the pews at St. Paul National Catholic Church to hear the talent they knew well before a contest introduced him to the world.</p><p>Fernando Varela returned to St. Paul, where he's served as music director for the past four years, for the first time since last month's near miss in the finals of NBC's “America's Got Talent.”</p><p>At numerous points during a Mass that stretched for almost two hours, Varela was applauded by St. Paul's appreciative parishioners, who clearly reveled in the outcome of the classic local-boy-makes-good tale.</p><p>“Fernando raises the roof,” said Barbara Field, a resident of The Villages who was a parishioner at St. Paul's when Varela started there.</p><p>Field said she regularly attends another church because it better accommodated her schedule, but periodically comes back to St. Paul. On Sunday, she went there — for the second of two services she went to — with her neighbor, Karen Castle, specifically so they could listen to Varela.</p><p>“I just don't see how he came in fourth,” Field said.</p><p>Varela, as part of an operatic trio of tenors called Forte, was one of six acts that made the show's finale in September.</p><p>Forte was the third one eliminated that night by the audience vote.</p><p>Still, the finish was strong enough to land Varela and his partners in Forte — Josh Page and Sean Panikkar — a recording deal with Columbia Records and shows at Carnegie Hall and the Tropicana casino resort in Las Vegas.</p><p>The Tropicana's website is already billing the group's appearance there at the end of December.</p><p>Forte's full recording with Columbia will be released on Nov. 12, although their single “Caruso” can be purchased online now.</p><p>Varela entered Sunday's service carrying his 3-year-old son, Zeke, to a standing ovation and people taking pictures of him with their cellphones.</p><p>“It's been exciting, but it's nice to come back home and to some sense of normalcy,” he told the congregation.</p><p>He then sang “You Raise Me Up,” a song originally by Josh Groban, with whom Forte performed on the finale of “America's Got Talent.”</p><p>“As Fernando was singing I couldn't help but be filled by the spirit,” the Rev. Mark Niznik, St. Paul's pastor, told the congregation.</p><p>“It's quite obvious where the most incredible talent was on that show. The most incredible talent is in our church here today.”</p><p>He then quipped that it was Susan Varela, Fernando Varela's wife and a former singer at Disney World.</p><p>Niznik referred to Varela as “our superstar” and cited his presence in church on Sunday, against the backdrop of Varela's recent achievements, to illustrate the appeal of St. Paul and its faith.</p><p>“You think he has to come back here?” Niznik said. “He could be the tenor at the Vatican, if he felt like it. He could sing anywhere in the world that he wants to. But look at which church he chose to remain at: the one he started with.”</p><p>Varela sang four other songs of worship, including two moving duets with his wife that also drew standing ovations from the parish.</p><p>After the service, Fernando Varela described his life recently as a “whirlwind,” one that had swept him up into instant and unexpected fame.</p><p>While the success was enjoyable, he added that he welcomed the chance for a respite, with an opportunity to do things that he had been unable to do while competing, such as having a date night with his wife and taking Zeke to day care.</p><p>“It's been nice to come back,” Varela said. “This is home for us, and I'll be happy to come back as much as I can.”</p><p>Castle, The Villages resident who had come to hear Varela for the first time, was obviously impressed, calling him “unbelievable.” But she was also taken by him as a person.</p><p>“He's keeping a level head. He's keeping family and religion a priority,” she said.</p>